29th May 2008 – A meeting with Pn. Rose, Education Attaché from Malaysian Student Department were conducted at Auckland University’s Club Space. All Malaysia student clubs and organization committees were called upon to attend this meeting.
There are four Malaysian clubs and organization in Auckland which are UMNO Auckland, PETRONAS Union in Auckland (PETUNIA), Union of Malaysian Students in Auckland (UMSA), and Malaysia Student Post-Grad in Auckland (MAPSA).
The main issue that had been brought up in the meeting was the need for cooperation among all Malaysian clubs in organizing the main events that symbolizes Malaysia. Malaysia Student Department had suggested that all main events like Merdeka Night, Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Chinese New Year, and Deepavali are to be hosted together in order to make a bigger celebration especially with the combination of recourses in terms of man power and financial.
It has also been proposed in the meeting that a supreme council were to be established with the combination of Malaysian clubs in Auckland. This club will assist MSD in dealing with administrative matters.
The number of Malaysian students in Auckland has increased dramatically in the past two years. This year, there are 426 Malaysian students that are registered with MSD but it is believed that there are more Malaysian students studying in Auckland and the number could reach up to 600.
All clubs seemed to agree with the ideas being brought up in the meeting and the establishment of the supreme council will be held soon in order to encourage more unity in conducting Malaysian events and also the club will play a role in assisting MSD with students’ administrative matters in Auckland.
The meeting adjourned at 10pm.
